Wishing to enclose in splendor the sacred sites of the fables concerning the beginnings of Athens, the city architects produced the Erechtheum. It is on the north side of the Acropolis, where once stood what Homer called “the strong house of Erechthe-us," a legendary king. Under a corner of the Erechtheum is the tomb of Cecrops, mythical first King of Athens. The building contained the gifts that the gods Poseidon and Athena gave the city in a contest to win its devotion. There were the marks of the fiery trident which Poseidon used to strike open a well of sea water, and the well itself. In a' courtyard was the gnarled first olive tree of all time, which Athena gave the city and thereby won both the contest and the hearts of all true Athenians. Legend says the tree, destroyed by the Persians, sprang to life again after they left. To encompass all of these things the Erechtheum became a most unusual temple in this land of rectangular temples. It is not symmetrical; it is built on two levels; its porches, one of which is shown at left, bear no relation to one another. Yet it breathes Ionic grace and charm.
PORCH OF THE MAIDENS On the Erechtheum has four original columns. The background figure has a modern head; the second from left in front is a cast of the original, now in the British Museum.
IN PANATHENAIC PROCESSION, paraders en route to the Acropolis carry jars of water, perhaps for sacrificial gifts. Their goal was the wooden statue of Athena that was housed in the Erechtheum.
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